Pest control endorsements and training competency units
All pesticide licences are issued with endorsements. Endorsements show what kinds of pesticides may be used and what kinds of pest control work may be undertaken. It is an offence to do pest control work that your licence is not endorsed for. The type of pest control work you wish to do, and have your licence endorsed with, determines which training courses (or ‘training competency units’) you must do.
Pest control endorsements
Endorsements on a Full Pest Management Technician’s (FPMT) licence are determined by which courses have been successfully completed. Endorsements on a Limited Pest Management Technician’s (LPMT) licence are restricted to the endorsements on the licence of their supervising FPMT.
- domestic and commercial pest control refers to the control of common domestic pests such as insects, spiders, wasps, rats, mice, ants and termites in and around private homes and commercial buildings. It may also include some minor use of herbicides in domestic or commercial situations.
- control of weeds and plant pests refers to the control of weed, insect and fungal pests using herbicides, insecticides and fungicides in any setting (except Viticultural settings) including fields, broad acre crops, pastures, native vegetation, along roadsides, in orchards, sports grounds, timber plantations and vegetable, flower and nut crops.
- control of weeds refers to the control of weeds using herbicides in any setting (except viticultural settings) including fields, broad acre crops, pastures, native vegetation, along roadsides, in orchards, sports grounds, timber plantations and vegetable, flower and nut crops.
- fumigation pest control refers to the control of a range of pests such as insects, weeds and fungus in soil, stacks, silos or ships using fumigant gases, mainly for quarantine purposes, the protection of grain and other food commodity stores, and soil treatment. Fumigation Pest Control does not cover the use of fumigants in vertebrate pest control.
- vertebrate pest control refers to the control of larger pest species such as wild rabbits and dogs, foxes, and feral cats and pigs.
- viticultural pest control refers to the control of pests such as weeds, insects and fungus in grape vines or vineyards.
- stump treatment refers to the treatment of plant/tree stumps to prevent regrowth using a limited range of chemicals.
- agricultural pilots/aerial agricultural pest control refers to the control of weed, insect and fungal pests in agricultural settings e.g. broad acre crops, with the pesticide distributed from an aircraft.
Training competency units required for a pest management technician’s licence
The type of pest control work you wish to do, and have your licence endorsed with, determines which training courses (or ‘training competency units’) you must do.
Download a copy of the Pest control training competency units in table format (PDF 225KB) or see the information below.
Limited Pest Management Technician’s licence (with Direct Supervision*)
A LPMT licence allows people who have not commenced or completed their training to legally start working in the pest control industry, but they may only do so under the Direct Supervision of a nominated FPMT.
Applicants for a LPMT licence are expected to commence the appropriate course of instruction and training as soon as practicable after the grant of the licence, and a LPMT licence may only be held for a maximum of two years.
LPMT licences are not available to persons seeking the Aerial Agricultural Pest Control or Stump Treatment endorsements.
* Direct Supervision: LPMT must be within sight AND sound of their supervising FPMT at all times while handling or applying pesticides.
Optional: Indirect Supervision*
Some LPMT licence holders may wish to apply to SA Health for permission to work under Indirect Supervision. To apply for Indirect Supervision the following documents must be submitted to SA Health:
- Training Skills Declaration(s) completed by the supervisor of the LMPT declaring that the LPMT has demonstrated they can use pesticides safely to control a particular pest, AND
- for Domestic and Commercial Pest Control – evidence of having successfully completed competency units CPPUPM3006 and CPUPM3018, OR
- for Control of Weeds, Control of Weeds and Plant Pests, Viticulture and Vertebrate Pest Control – evidence of having successfully completed AHCCHM307 and ACCHM304.
* Indirect Supervision: LPMT must be within sight OR sound of their supervising FPMT at all times while handling or applying pesticides (‘sound’ can be by telephone). Indirect Supervision is not available to LPMT licences endorsed for Fumigation Pest Control.
Full Pest Management Technician’s licence
Training competency units required by Endorsement sought:
Domestic and commercial pest control – excluding timber pests
- CPPUPM3006 Manage Pests by applying pesticides
- CPPUPM3018 Maintain equipment and pesticide storage area in pest management vehicles
- CPPUPM3005 Manage pests without applying pesticides
- On job assessment
Domestic and commercial pest control – including timber pests
- CPPUPM3006 Manage Pests by applying pesticides
- CPPUPM3018 Maintain equipment and pesticide storage area in pest management vehicles
- CPPUPM3005 Manage pests without applying pesticides
- CPPUPM3008 Inspect for and report on timber pests
- CPPUPM3010 Control timber pests
- On job assessment
Fumigation (soil, stack, silo and/or ships)
- AHCCHM307 Prepare and apply chemicals to control pest, weeds and diseases
- AHCCHM304 Transport and store chemicals
- CPPUPM3011 Manage organisms by applying fumigants to commodities and environments
- On job assessment (plus additional assessment or evidence for ‘Ships’)
Control of weeds
- AHCCHM307 Prepare and apply chemicals to control pest, weeds and diseases
- AHCCHM304 Transport and store chemicals
- AHCPMG301 Control Weeds
Control of weeds and plant pests
- AHCCHM307 Prepare and apply chemicals to control pest, weeds and diseases
- AHCCHM304 Transport and store chemicals
- AHCPMG301 Control Weeds
- AHCPMG302 Control plant pests, diseases and disorders
Viticulture
- AHCCHM307 Prepare and apply chemicals to control pest, weeds and diseases
- AHCCHM304 Transport and store chemicals
- FBPVIT3009 Monitor and control vine disorders and damage
Vertebrates
- AHCCHM307 Prepare and apply chemicals to control pest, weeds and diseases
- AHCCHM304 Transport and store chemicals
- AHCFAU202 Recognise fauna
- AHCPMG305 Survey pests
- AHCPMG306 Determine pest control techniques
- AHCPM307 Apply animal trapping techniques
OR
- ANIML SC 3019RW Ecology and Mgt of Vertebrate Pests 111 (Uni of Adelaide Certificate)
Agricultural pilots/aerial agricultural pest control
Manned
Operation Spray Safe Accreditation: conducted by Aerial Agriculture Association of Australia (AAAA)
Unmanned
- Operation Spray Safe Accreditation: conducted by Aerial Agriculture Association of Australia (AAAA)
OR
- AHCCHM307 Prepare and apply chemicals to control pest, weeds and diseases
- AHCCHM304 Transport and store chemicals
- and one or both of the following:
- AHCPMG301 Control Weeds
- AHCPMG302 Control plant pests, diseases and disorders
Stump treatment
- AHCCHM307 Prepare and apply chemicals to control pest, weeds and diseases
- AHCCHM304 Transport and store chemicals.